Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds or the characters. Some "guest stars" are based on people in my life while others are totally made up, as are some places..
Chapter 51
The sound of low voices drew Penelope from her slumber. She stretched and yawned and struggled to sit up. JJ had warned her that the baby would throw off her equilibrium and she was right. Penelope felt around the coffee table until she came across her glasses. She donned them and stood up. She eyed her robe draped over her walker and put it on. She used the facilities and when she was done she walked to the kitchen, where the voices were coming from.
As one the group looked up as she stood in the kitchen doorway. Their faces were full of concern and Penelope shifted uncomfortably. JJ stood up quickly and hugged her friend before guiding her to a vacant chair. "I brought donuts for everyone," she said as she placed a box on the table. Penelope peaked in and took out one with maple icing and rainbow sprinkles- her favorite. Derek placed a tumbler of milk in front of her while the others helped themselves to the pastries.
"Did you sleep well?" Rossi asked.
Penelope nodded. She knew they were seeing if she was fine without actually asking. "I did. No dreams."
"That's good, Kitten. Glad to hear it."
"You all are here because of the court papers, right?" Penelope asked when she finished her donut.
"Yes," Hotch began. "I got served this morning."
"So did I," Kate added.
"And I got served last night," Reid said. "Nobody else has... yet."
"I'm prepared to represent all of us in this if it's OK with the rest of you," Hotch said.
"Do you think it has any merit?" Penelope asked.
"No, I don't. The Bureau cleared both Morgan and me. They were clean shots. Alfie Jackson knew what he was doing. He chose suicide by cop and if we hadn't shot first, he would've shot one of us." He glanced quickly at Derek who stared back. The two profilers had discussed Alfie's last moments several times but neither could figure out why he had aimed for Hotch instead of Derek. Seeing the brothers' hatred towards Derek only made Alfie's final choice that much more bewildering. "But that doesn't mean I'm not going to let just anyone represent us. I'm going to end it quickly."
"Why would Grant sue us for the wrongful death of his brother if he has no chance of winning?" Penelope asked.
"Maybe to help with his own trial," Derek said. "His lawyer is probably going to dreg up every thing we- the whole unit- have done. It isn't going to be pretty or nice and this will just be something going to try and use against us later."
"Will I have to testify?"
"Hopefully not," Reid said. "But maybe."
"Oh." Penelope's eyes filled with tears. She tried to blink them back but felt warm arms engulf her instantly. She sniffed and buried her face in Derek's shoulder.
"Talk to us, Garcia. Er, Penelope," Hotch said.
Penelope looked up from Derek's shoulder. Her team of superheroes each looked at her with concern. She straightened her posture but held on to Derek's hand.
"I'm scared, Bossman," she confessed.
"We won't let anything happen to you, Kitten," Rossi assured.
"Oh, no. It's nothing like that, Papa Bear," she smiled sweetly at the man who had basically become a surrogate father to her. "It's just... I said a lot of things... before I was recruited by the FBI... that I'm not proud of." She looked back to Derek as understanding registered in his eyes. "Things that were recorded."
"Penelope, your reputation with the Bureau..." Hotch began.
"Is far from perfect," she finished. "Nobody else has been suspended as many..."
"I have," Hotch interrupted. "And I will not allow anyone to tarnish your good name. The Bureau respects you. You are just as much a BAU agent as the rest of us."
"I remember everything- except what happened when I was unconscious," she explained. "I remember them taking me. They hit me over the head and when I woke up I was blindfolded and gagged. They gave me water, but it was drugged. I woke up again still blindfolded and gagged, handcuffed to a bed in an RV. They gave me food and it was drugged, too. I heard a radio station when they stopped for gas. I didn't know what to do but I knew my general location." She looked over at Reid. "When they made me say goodbye, I remembered what you did... with Hankel. Dropped a subtle hint that only a specific person would know. I hoped that you would understand and figure it out, and you did!"
"It was brilliant, Penelope. You gave us the clues we needed. The brothers screwed up; they left your credentials in the van while switching vehicles. Kevin traced the owner of the van and had a description of the RV. We were already in Indiana by the time we got the video."
"What happened... I remember... I tried to fight Grant. He was the mean one. The other one... Alfie... he seemed to care more. He cleaned me up and talked to me. He stopped Grant from hurting me a few times... but he wasn't there... after the goodbye video. I... I tried to fight. I hid the pen they gave me to write my goodbyes. I tried to stab Grant in the neck with it. He moved and I hit his shoulder instead. That's when... that's when he hit me and I fell over the chair. I think that's when my pelvis broke. I heard a crack as I fell. It hurt bad and I could barely move. But then... he climbed on top of me and..." She shuddered and unconsciously put her hand on her chest. "He pulled my dress down and... and... he burned me, over and over... on my chest and arms. I blacked out from the pain."
"Oh, Pen..." JJ whispered and hugged her friend tightly. She sat back in her chair while Penelope sniffed and smiled tightly.
"It's OK. We're fine. Grant and Winstin are in jail and Alfie... he chose his own fate. There's no point in worrying about the lawsuit now." Penelope sighed as she helped herself to another donut. She looked up as her family stared at her. She shrugged. "I was going to wait until I came back to work but I think we need some good news right now." Her eyes twinkled as she glanced at Derek, then Reid.
"What do you mean, Pen?" JJ asked.
Penelope shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh, not much. When I went to the doctor we kinda found out we're having a girl and..." She was cut off by JJ and Kate squealing.
A/N: Ok, kids... I had a dumbass attack. I meant to post this chapter on Friday and then post the next one as a surprise Friday night or Saturday. Hubby went to the eye doctor Friday and turns out he has a eye infection. Plus it seemed like everyone there and at the pharmacy was coughing up a lung so when we got home I cleaned and Lysoled like crazy. The flu is a crazy epidemic here and has killed two people I went to school with. My immune system has never been strong so I definitely don't want it. Then I passed out because I hadn't slept since Thursday afternoon. When I woke up I got busy with work and by the time I sat down to read reviews and PMs, I was like "wha...?" because for some reason chapter 51 and 52 got mixed up. I write from both my phone and tablet and I did the final edit of 51 on the tablet. It ended up disappearing from the cloud. I posted the chapter via my phone while at the eye doctor. I saw chapter 52 as the last work edited and thought it was 51. Oops. So, I'm removing the last chapter. I'm going to post this one (the correct chapter 51), then repost chapter 52. Sorry for the confusion and thanks for the love and support,
Pita(dodo)Cake
